6th-35th, Volume 13a - Routine Proceedings

VOL. XLIV No. 13A - 1:30 p.m., MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1994

Monday, December 19, 1994

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Monday, December 19, 1994

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Physical Education in Schools

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Arlene Crabbe, Janina McKinnon, Doug MacTavish and others urging the Minister responsible for Education (Mr. Manness) to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.

Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Tom Price, Bill Starling, Betty Howell and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Tom Gulak, Kim Hope, Michelle Strube and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I beg to present the petition of Lyle Gallant, Chris Graham, G. Guzda and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.

Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Fran Clayton, Donna McLaughlin, Darlene Meloney and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as a part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.

Housing Authorities Voluntary Boards

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Rita Poirier, Dennis Roussin, Halina Rybak and others requesting the Minister responsible for Housing (Mrs. McIntosh) to consider cancelling the recent unilateral rent hikes and restoring the voluntary boards for the housing authorities.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Physical Education in Schools

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Lamoureux). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and it complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Yes.

Mr. Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned residents of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT in July 1994, the Minister of Education introduced an action plan entitled Renewing Education: New Directions;

THAT this report will make physical education an optional course in Grades 9 to 12;

THAT the physical education curriculum should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of students;

THAT the government is failing to recognize the benefits of physical education such as improved physical fitness, more active lifestyles, health promotion, self-discipline, skill development, stress reduction, strengthened peer relationships, weight regulation, stronger bones, reduced risk of health diseases and improved self-confidence.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Education to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.

Improvement of Highway 391

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Ashton). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Mr. Speaker: The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS the state of Highway 391 is becoming increasingly unsafe; and

WHEREAS due to the poor condition of the road there have been numerous accidents; and

WHEREAS the condition of the road between Thompson and Nelson House is not only making travel dangerous but costly due to frequent damage to vehicles; and

WHEREAS this road is of vital importance to residents who must use the road.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba may be pleased to request that the government of Manitoba consider reviewing the state of Highway 391 with a view towards improving the condition and safety of the road.

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Physical Education in Schools

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Martindale). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS the proposed changes to the Manitoba curriculum would have no physical education required for students after Grade 8; and

WHEREAS the social, intellectual, emotional and physical benefits of physical education have been proven through extensive research; and,

WHEREAS requiring physical education for high school sends a message that physical activity is important for life and encourages high school students to make life choices to stay active and it fits into a preventative health strategy; and,

WHEREAS many parents, students, medical professionals and educators, health and recreation specialists are urging that physical education be increased in schools.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Education to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Clif Evans). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Yes. The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS the proposed changes to the Manitoba curriculum would have no physical education required for students after Grade 8; and

WHEREAS the social, intellectual, emotional and physical benefits of physical education have been proven through extensive research; and,

WHEREAS many parents, students, medical professionals and educators, health and recreation specialists are urging that physical education be increased in schools.

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Schellenberg). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba, humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS the proposed changes to the Manitoba curriculum would have no physical education required for students after Grade 8; and

WHEREAS the social, intellectual, emotional and physical benefits of physical education have been proven through extensive research; and

WHEREAS many parents, students, medical professionals and educators, health and recreation specialists are urging that physical education be increased in schools.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.

Handi-Transit

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Hickes). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Mr. Speaker: The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

The Manitoba government has decreased funding to the City of Winnipeg Transit budget by $300,000; and

At the same time the City of Winnipeg has increased funding to Handi-Transit by $430,000; and

The Filmon government has refused to provide the City of Winnipeg with sufficient funding to maintain Handi-Transit service; and

As a result of the province's refusal to cost-share with the city for Handi-Transit services, Handi-Transit has cut back on approximately 42,000 trips per year; and

Over 10,000 disabled Manitobans rely upon Handi-Transit as their primary means of transportation; and

Handi-Transit operators are now turning down over 200 ride requests per day; and

This lack of transportation will result in many disabled Manitobans losing their independence and dignity and being forced to be institutionalized at far higher costs to the taxpayers of this province; and

The Filmon government has refused to even send a representative of the government to sit on the Handi-Transit Task Force committee.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly will urge the Minister of Urban Affairs (Mrs. McIntosh) to consider working with the City of Winnipeg and the disabled to develop a long-term plan to maintain Handi-Transit service and ensure that disabled Manitobans will continue to have access to Handi-Transit service.

Children's Dental Program

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Ms. Wowchuk). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS Manitoba has the highest rate of child poverty in the country; and

WHEREAS over 55,000 children depend upon the Children's Dental Program; and

WHEREAS several studies have pointed out the cost savings of preventative and treatment health care programs such as the Children's Dental Program; and

WHEREAS the Children's Dental Program has been in effect for 17 years and has been recognized as extremely cost-effective and critical for many families in isolated communities; and

WHEREAS the provincial government did not consult the users of the program or the providers before announcing plans to eliminate 44 of the 49 dentists, nurses and assistants providing this service; and

WHEREAS preventative health care is an essential component of health care reform.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) consider restoring the Children's Dental Program to the level it was prior to the 1993/94 budget.

Physical Education in Schools

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Ms. Friesen). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS the proposed changes to the Manitoba curriculum would have no physical education required for students after Grade 8; and

WHEREAS the social, intellectual, emotional and physical benefits of physical education have been proven through extensive research; and,

WHEREAS many parents, students, medical professionals and educators, health and recreation specialists are urging that physical education be increased in schools.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I have two reports to table, one pursuant to Section 7(2) of The Loan Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, and one pursuant to Section 56(3) of The Financial Administration Act as of March 31, 1994.

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INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 219--The Elections Amendment Act

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Point Douglas (Mr. Hickes), that leave be given to introduce Bill 219, The Elections Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi électorale, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion presented.

Mr. Mackintosh: Mr. Speaker, this bill gets patronage out of the administration of elections in that it takes the power to appoint returning officers from the cabinet and gives that power to the Chief Electoral Officer to be exercised by considering merit.

There is not an area where patronage is more repugnant than election administration. The bill will ensure that returning officers are both seen to be and are actually impartial and makes a move to a timely appointment process and professionally trained administrators.

This measure is recommended by the Chief Electoral Officer and was most recently urged in regard to last year's by-election in St. Johns.

Motion agreed to.